johnson



' March 5, 1929. F. H. JOHNSON AIRCRAFT FLOTATION DEVICE Filed April 12,1927 2 Sheets-Sheet lEFl-E.

March 5, 1929.

F. H. JOHNSON AIRCRAFT FLOTATION DEVICE Filed April 12, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet QQQQ INVEN'T 1:": FF-WEIDEHIGH H. JIIHNEEN Patented Mar. 5,1929.

lJlll'l'ED STATES FREDERICK HOSMER JOHNSON, OF KENI'v'lOBlil, NEW YORK.

AIRCRAFT FLOTATION DEVICE.

Application filed April 12, 1927. Serial No. 183,121.

My invention relates to improvements in aircraft structures and theobject of my invention is to permanently render all types of aircraftwater bouyont, and so overcome the drowning; hazard which constantlymenaces pilots which. may be forced in an emergency to alight uponwater. My invention particularly relates to aeroplanes which are notdesigned to alight upon the surface of water,

but is also very applicable to sea planes which of course are providedwith pontoons to sustain the machine upon the surface, but if one ormore of the pontoons, upon the side of the machine become damaged.through a forced landing being); made, or through, other causes, themachine is very apt to turn turtle with the great possibility of loss ofthe crew.

Another object of my lHVQlllllOn which consists of providing amultiplicity of n: s or air containing balloons or bubbles in suitableplaces in the interior of the wings and fuselage, also interiorly of thepontoons in sea going craft, is to utilize these bubbles which may be ofconglomerate form and adhere to the inner surfaces of the fabric as ameans for preventing the fabric from ripping and bursting open to agreat extent should the machine suffer from anti-aircraft fire, or thefabric torn through any unforeseen cause.

A still further object of my invention is to inflate the balloons orform the conglomcrate bubbles by means of flame extinguishing as and sodecrease to a great extent the lire hazard which is ever present whengasoline is used, and another object of my invention is to utilize theconglomerate bubbles, the skin of which is designed to set after theyareinjected into the difli'erentparts of the machine, as a means forcoating the inner faces of the fabric, beams, strut-s, etc, and soprevent the acci'lmulation of moisture within the wings and fuselagewhich so often unnoticeal'ily deterio ates the structure and seriouslyweakens the machine.

My invention consists of an aircraft flotation means constructed andarranged all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated.in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of an aeroplane fuselage, part ofthe fabric being broken away to disclose my balloons or bubblespositioned within the waste spaces.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional.

View through an aeroplane wing showing balloons positioned therein.

F igure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through pontoon showing myballoons positioned therein.

F igure 4i is plan view of a fragmentary portion of an aeroplane wing,part of the l 1 ric being broken away to disclosed the florationballoons.

Figure 5 is a similar view'to Figure 4:, a conglomerate mass of bubblesbeing shown positioned in the wing instead of the individual balloonsillustrated in Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of a plurality ofballoon or bubble containing fabric cases which may be attachedinteriorly of the body structure.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in thedifferent views.

I do not propose, to particularly identify the respective aeroplaneparts; as my invention can with equal facility housed in any type ofaircraft, whether of the lighter than air or heavier than airtype, andthe drawings only illustrate the standard parts of most heavier than airmachines.

1 is an aircraft fuselage, the portion 2 which extends from the cockpitto the tail is generally considered waste space and can be very readilyadapted to contain my balloons or bubbles which I have indicatedthroughout the drawings by numeral 3. When individual balloons are usedthey are constructed of hiegh grade air proof rubber which will permitthem to remain inflated with gas or air for long periods, and theseballoons are suitably positioned within the fuselage so that they fillevery convenient space but do not interfere with the control cableswhich pass therethrough.

If upon the other hand conglomerate bub bles are used, such bubbles areformed after the manner of'conglomerate soap bubbles from a warmsolution having as its base rubber or some similar substance. Theseconglomerate bubbles can be made in a simply constructed bubble formingdevice and passed therefrom whilst in a moist state into the aircraftwhere they will iroperly set,

from surfaces andv reepin 1 1-. a 0 fabric stitches cl 4 ure 5 it willgencrall;

bubble mass is set Will not impair the buoyancy thereof, as is so ancyof the machine at its heavie portions of the machine a, d as they Wil 5the balloons positioned in the vicinity of the entering and trailingedges are small the balloons positioned centrally of are comparativelylarge.

exp-an in of the balloon disturbing th the upper and lo means verticalare suitably pcs' purpose of retain .g

Whi ist adjusted po.

elated that shou smashed broken landing is made u loons in place ing andlioatin here the c tion suitable forms or u about the wings for rcinror:against internal pressure when an; i. crate mass is being As soon f 1 orclar v be "einoved and 1' will it will also be neccs y operate the ctrol cables Whilst the mass is setting to prevent it from clinging tothem, or provide 35 tubes to contain the cables.

The pontoons for sea planes can be al o designed to contain bubbles orballoons L1) great advantage as any failure of the pontoon skin orstructure arising from accident,

now the case, but it Will retain buoyancy through the medium of mydevice.

Upon reference to Figure 1 it will be seen that I have provided anvauxiliaryballwn or bubble containing member 5, shown in dotare l the,ff); ward ted lines upon the unde portion of the fuselage in thevicinity of the center of gravity of t 1e machine the provision of thisi ember will insure he b c p Will in some cases be found a verydesirable addition. It Will. be readily understood that balloon orbubble containing ineinb: as this type can be readily attached diner-antother suite e parts of the body. t Will d that by furnish i balloons .econtaining iric cases of suitable shapes that they can be readily anyexisting aircraft Water aking the machine out of a long period or goingto a my bubbles or balloons are filled r r. eutinguii'ihing gas, dd inre to the safety ()1 the pilot lame not entirely extinthe balloons orbubcases be held check ant. x not to inal-ze a safe landing. descriptionit will y appreciated that I have defor rendering all types of airibuoyant Without increasing the e or cost of manufacture to an undue 'eeandv whilst I have illustrated and de- 0 ly certain specific embodimentsof inveimon, realize that it is susceptable many variations bringingabout the same result and that the principle thereof may be embodied inmany different forms.

l V hat I claim as my invention is:

l. A Water flotation device for aircraft comprising a gas containingfoam positioned interior-1y of the body of the machine.

2. A Water flotation device for aircraft comprising a conglomerate massof gas containing foam positioned interiorly of the machine.

3. Water flotation device for aircraft of the heavier than, air typeconuarising a conglomerate mass of containing bubbles positionedinteriorly of the fuselage and Wings of the machine.

comprising a plurality of flame extinguishing gas containing bubblespositioned interiorly of the body of the machine.

5. A Water flotation device for aircraft comprising a conglomerate massof fir-tine extinguishing containing bubbles posiioned interiorly of themachine.

FREDERICK HOSMEB JOHNSON.

